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THE FALLEN: 10 years after Pfc. Jesse Givens died, his family still mourns

The rifle, helmet, boots and dogtags of Pfc. Jesse Givens, a tank driver for Heavy Company, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, are displayed during a memorial ceremony attended by soldiers from the 3rd ACR in Habbaniyah, Iraq Sunday, May 4, 2003. Givens was killed Thursday, when his tank slid into a river while its crew attempted to stomp out an arsons' blaze. The fire was threatening to detonate abandoned Iraqi explosives in the company's area of operation. Other members of the tank crew were able to escape, however Givens was trapped in his driver's compartment. Photo by Andy Rogers/The Gazette

Spc. Tjuan Burt of Heavy Company, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, says goodbye to his fellow tank crew-member Pfc. Jesse Givens, during a memorial ceremony in Habbaniyah, Iraq Sunday, May 4, 2003. Givens was killed Thursday, when his tank slid into a river while its crew attempted to stomp out an arsons' blaze. The fire was threatening to detonate abandoned Iraqi explosives in the company's area of operation. Other members of the tank crew were able to escape, however Givens was trapped in his driver's compartment. Photo by Andy Rogers/The Gazette

Friends, family and well wishers were on hand to pay one final tribute to PFC Jesse Givens during a funeral service at the Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd. on Saturday, May 9, 2003. Givens drowned on May 1 when a portion of the bank along the Euphrates River west of Baghdad collapsed, submerging the tank he was driving. Givens remains are to be cremated and sent back to Missouri, which is where he was born. The Gazette, Bryan Oller

Thursday, August 8,2003-photo by Jerilee Bennett-Melissa Givens was near the end of her pregnancy with her son, Carson, when her husband went overseas to fight in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her husband, Jesse Givens, was the first soldier from Ft. Carson to die in the war. Taking care of a newborn by herself, as well as her five-year-old, Dakota, is very challenging during her grieving process. She calms down Carson's crying with a bottle in her living room.

Thursday, August 8,2003-photo by Jerilee Bennett-Disciplining her five-year-old, Dakota, is one of the greatest challenges for Melissa Givens since she lost her husband. She always let her husband, Jesse Givens, do the disciplining. She grounds Dakota for misbehaving. Jesse Givens was the first soldier from Ft. Carson to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Soldiers carry a flag-draped casket containing the remains of PFC Jesse Givens, of the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry, off of a plane on Friday, May 9, 2003 at the Colorado Springs Airport as his grieving wife Melissa, far left, watches. Givens died on May 1 west of Baghdad when the tank he was driving fell into a river. All crew members, except Givens, escaped. Givens is the only soldier from Ft. Carson to die in Iraq to date. A funeral with full military honors will be held on Saturday at the Shrine of Remembrance at 1730 E Fountain Blvd. at 2:00 p.m. The Gazette, Bryan Oller

From left, Olebria Lassien, Melissa Givens and Lt. Gen. Christopher Miller place a wreath during a re-dedication ceremony for the Freedom Memorial Sunday, Sept. 11, at Memorial Park. Lassien is the surviving mother of Master Sgt. Harold Green while Givens is the surviving spouse of Pfc. Jesse Givens.
Mike Christy, The Gazette

Melissa Givens and her sons, Dakota, and Carson (left to right) have some family time making ceramic projects at Artful Adventures. Melissa Given's husband, Jesse Givens, was the first Ft. Carson soldier to be killed after 9/11. Friday, August 26, 2011.(The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett)

Melissa Givens reacts as she realizes she has never told her youngest son that the box above the kitchen cabinet is where his father, Pfc. Jesse Givens, is resting. Jesse Givens was the first Fort Carson soldier killed in the war in Iraq. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette

Melissa Givens, center, and her children Carson, left, and Dakota play a game of Sorry in their living room in Fountain Thursday, May 14, 2013. Melissa's husband and the kids father, Pfc. Jesse Givens, was the first Fort Carson soldier killed in the war in Iraq. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette

Melissa Givens jokes with her son Carson, 9, in the living room of their Fountain home Thursday, May 14, 2013. Carson was born one month after his father father, Pfc. Jesse Givens, was was killed in the war in Iraq. He was the first causality from Fort Carson and the family is still working to cope with the loss. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette

Melissa Givens and her children Dakota, 15, and Carson, 9, are still dealing with the death of their father, Pfc. Jesse Givens, ten years after his passing. Jesse Givens was the first Fort Carson soldier killed in the war in Iraq. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette